Work never stops on a vineyard as successful as the Three Choirs near Newent and now it is the season for pruning the vines.

In fact, staff at the 75-acre site have only until March to prune some 80,000 vines, from classic grape varieties through to more modern introductions, in keeping with the vineyard's reputation as a pioneering site.

Managing director Thomas Shaw is confident that last year's excellent growing season holds terrific promise for the 2003 English wines that will come through next summer.

"We are flying the flag for English weather, as well as English wine," he said.

Ironically, while Gloucestershire benefited from perfect growing conditions, the traditional French grape growing heartlands across the channel were not so fortunate, in a summer of heat and drought.

The vineyard, founded in the early 1970s, is no stranger to being in competition with the French.

Before the close of November each year, the Three Choir's New Release, a white wine, also known as Vin Anglais Nouveau, has become something of a rival in the UK to the French Beaujolais Nouveau, which comes out around in the same month.

This year, following the bumper harvest, the Three Choirs were able to produce some 500 cases of New Release.

For the other vintages from the summer of 2003, it's is a case of waiting for time to work its magic.